ARLINGTON, Texas – A college football coaching legend and Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Famer, Lou Holtz passed away on Wednesday, March 4, in Orlando, Fla. He was 89.
 
Holtz led Notre Dame to three Cotton Bowl Classic appearances against Texas A&M, winning twice in back-to-back games (57th Classic in 1993 and the 58th Classic in 1994). He was inducted into the Cotton Bowl Classic Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
His Irish manhandled Texas A&M 28-3 in the 1993 matchup, although it did not start that way. A defensive stalemate ensued until Holtz pulled the middle screen out of his bag of tricks with 45 seconds before the half. The pass went to receiver Lake Dawson, who sailed 40 yards for the Irish's first score. It was a brilliant decision by Holtz that cracked the game wide open.
 
The repeat meeting with the Aggies for the 1994 game was not like the one 365 days earlier. This one features teams with identical 10-1 records with Notre Dame hoping a strong showing would get the Irish back to the No. 1 ranking. This see-saw battle was tied 21-21 after three quarters. Holtz's squad got in position to take the lead thanks to a 38-yard punt return by Michael Miller. That pivotal play helped set up the game-clinching, 22-yard field goal from Kevin Pendergast with just 2:22 left to play.
 
In Holtz's first Notre Dame-Texas A&M matchup in the 52nd Classic in 1998, the Aggies were victorious 35-10 to put a sour conclusion to the Irish's 100th season of college football.
 
Known for his quick wit, motivational speeches and being a stern taskmaster on the gridiron, Holtz found success beyond the sidelines as a best-selling author and television analyst. The former head coach at six institutions has been inducted into multiple halls of fame and received honorary doctorate degrees from Notre Dame, South Carolina, Trine University and Franciscan University of Steubenville.
 
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